GB826255A - Improvements in or relating to mobile appliances for treating floors, floor coverings and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

826,255. Cleaning floors and floor coverings. TAYLOR, F. W. P. Dec. 3, 1957 [Sept. 3, 1956], No. 26924/56. Class 138(1). An apparatus for treating floors, floor coverings, or textile fabrics comprising a mobile frame carrying a motor or motors (27), a movably mounted floot-treating element or elements (e.g. scrubber(s)) to perform a to-andfro or orbital motion or a circular rotary motion about an axis of the element upon the surface to be treated, and a driving connection between the motor(s) and the floor-treating element(s) (31), and also comprising a container (53) for clean liquid for treating the surface. Supply ducts from this container to the treating element(s), a waste container (54), a fan or fans (47) for removing by suction through a duct or ducts (35, 49, 51, 58) the used liquid, dirt, &c., from the treated surface to the waste container, is characterised by the inlet to the suction duct (s) (35) being an elongated slot (40) which circumscribes or substantially so the floor-treating element(s) (31) and lies in or substantially in the plane of the floor-treating surface of the floortreating element(s). As shown the brush 31 is rotated via a flexible coupling 32 and worm and gear drive by the electric motor 27 which also operates the suction-fan 47. The brush is perforated as for example disclosed in Specification 451,704 and cleaning or liquid is led thereto from tank 53 by ducts (not shown) and channel 34. The elongated suction duct 35 which at least three-quarters encircles the brush element is made in three sections 36 each carried on pivoted links 43 to allow for floor unevenness and interconnected 2 flexible hoses 51. The sides of the inlet duct 40 comprise flexible lips 39 which are adjustable up and down in slots 37 to compensate for wear. Two wheels 63 which may be manually lowered to the floor for easy removal of the apparatus are mounted at the back of the casing and are normally held raised by springs 27. If desired a third adjustable-wheel may be added at the front centre and arranged so that the floor &c., may be treated with the device resting on both the brushes and the wheels. Furthermore provision may be made for connecting to a remote source of suction by e.g. a flexible hose, and also to a remote supply of detergent &c. The fan 47 may have a separate motor. Suction-fan (and its own motor if supplied), liquid and waste tanks, suction-elements 36 and discs 49, 51, 58 are all quickly detachable from the main casing 12, so that without them the appliance may be used as a floor polisher. Specifications 399,174, 470,192, 486,499, 486,500 and 685,715 also are referred to.